Anti-ricochet wire guard

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for winding wire or rod on a reel having a shield, at least a portion of which is movable, to substantially enclose and protect wire wound on the reel when the wire is cut. A circumferential gap is provided between an edge of the shield and a flange of the reel through which the cut end of the wire can extend.

United States Patent Stefaniszyn 51 May 9, 1972 ANTI-RICOCHET WIRE GUARDPrimary Evamiher-Stanley N. Gilre'ath Assistant Examiner-Milton GersteinA!trneyAlan Swabey [5 7] ABSTRACT An apparatus for winding wire or rodon a reel having a shield, at least a portion of which is movable, tosubstantially enclose and protect wire wound on the reel when the wireis cut. A circumferential gap is provided between an edge of the shieldInventor: John Joseph Stefaniszyn, Pointe Claire,

Quebec, Canada Assignee: Northern Electric Company Limited, Montreal,Quebec, Canada Filed: Apr. 24, 1970 Appl. No.: 31,554

u.s. Cl. .Q ..242/zs A Int; Cl ..B65h 54/02 Field ofSearch ..242/'A, 25R, 181 A, 181 PW, 242/ 181 W and a. flange of the reel through which thecut end of the wire can e ltend.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PA'TENTEDMAY 9 m2 3.661} 335 i 'K II run"INVENTOR John Joseph STEFANISZYN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofInvention This invention relates to an improved winding apparatus forwinding stock material onto a reel, which apparatus has a shield toprotect the stock wound on the reel from being damaged by a loose end ofthe stock flying about when the winding operation is finished.

2. Description of Prior Art In winding apparatus, where stock is woundon a flanged reel rotating about an axis at high speed, the stock isnormally guided back and forth axially along the stock receiving surfaceof the rotating reel between two flanges to distribute it evenly.

Once the desiredamount of stock has been wound onto the reel, the stockis cut, generally when the stock is positioned adjacent one flange, andthe reel is then allowed to come to rest. The reel, together with thestock wound on it, is then removed from the apparatus and replaced withan empty reel. When the stock has been cut, and before the reel comes torest, the cut or loose end portion of the stock is carried around by thereel and is liable to ricochet off the winding apparatus back againstthe stock wound on the reel, thus damaging it. For example, when thestock comprises insulated wire or cable, the loose end of the wireflaying about could cut the insulation on the wire wound on the reel.

Attempts have been made to provide shielding to try to prevent the looseend of the stock from damaging the stock wound on the reel while thereel is being brought to a halt.

' ferential gap, and even though it may ricochet oh the ap- One type ofshielding is shown in US. Pat. No. 3,182,921, isv sued May I l, 1965,Alden W. Nelson, inventor. The present discloses a dual-reel windingapparatus wherein the stock is wound on one reel and then is cut andtransferredtfrom the one full reel to wind on the axially aligned emptysecond reel without interruption in the feed of the stock. Intransferring the stock, it is moved adjacent and over one flange of thefull reel, nearest the other reel, by guide means and is then cut. Thefull first reel is removed and replaced by anempty reel while windingcontinues on the second reel.

Shielding is provided at each reel station during winding as shown inthe patent in an attempt to guide the loose or cut end of the stock onthe full reel, after the stock is cut, insuch a manner as to prevent itfrom ricocheting and thus damaging the stock on the reel. However, inorder to permit the stock guide means to transverse back and forthbetween the flanges of either reel, to evenly distribute the stock onthe stock receiving surface of the reels, a relatively large gap orthroat must be provided in the shielding. At high winding speeds, thecut or loose end of the stock can be whipped past this gap in the shieldwith sufficient force to cause it to ricochet ofi the shield back ontothe stock wound onto the reel, or even against the stock now beingguided for winding on the second reel, thus reducing the effectivenessof the shield. In addition, in order to provide the throat, the shieldmust be constructed in sections, several of which must be pivotablymounted to permit handling of the reel. This increases the cost of theshielding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Applicant's invention is designed to overcomethe prior art 1 disadvantages and provide a simple, effective andinexpensive shield means. The invention is directed toward an improvedshield for stock winding apparatus whereby the shield, when the stock isto be cut, circumferentially encloses substantially the entire stockreceiving surface of the reel except for a narrow, axially extending,circumferential gap between one edge paratus as the full reel is broughtto a halt, it is prevented by the circumferential shield from damagingthe stock already wound onto the reel. If, on the other hand, the looseend of the stock slips through the gap, the smooth, unbroken,circumferential inner surface of the shield prevents it from ricochetingback onto the wound stock.

In order to permit the guide means to traverse the stock receivingsurface of the reel while the stock is being wound, the shield, or atleast a portion thereof, must be removed during winding to provide athroat having a width in the axial direction of the'reel at least equalto the width of the stock receiving surface of the reel. It is,therefore, a feature of the invention to provide a circumferentialshield having at least a portion of which is movable from a firstnon-shielding position to permit stock to be wound, to a secondshielding position to .provide a shield which circumferentially enclosessubstantially the entire stock receiving surface of the reel immediatelyprior to cutting the stock. The shield may be split into two or moresegments with one segment being fixed adjacent a portion of theperiphery of the reel in a position to permit unhindered winding of thestock, and the other segment or segments movable into position tocooperate with the fixed segment to form a shield enclosingsubstantially all of the stock receiving surface of the reel when thestock is about to be cut. The movable segment or segments can be mountedto move radially or axially into position.

The invention is particularly directed toward a winding apparatus usinga reel which has a stock receiving surface and end flanges. Means areprovide for rotating the reel about its axis. Movable guide means areprovided to feed stock evenly onto the reel. Cutting means are providedto cut the stock after the desired amount of stock has been wound ontothe reel and when the stock is located adjacent one of the reel flanges.A tubular shield is mounted on the apparatus along with means to move atleast a portion of the shield to an operative position in which theshield protects the stock wound on the reel when the stock is out. Oneedge of the shield, in the operative position, is axially spaced fromsaid one flange of the reel a distance slightly greater than the widthof the stock to provide a narrow circumferential gap through which thestock can extend.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described indetail having reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view, in partial section, ofa dual reelwinding apparatus having one embodiment of the shields of this inventionwith one of the shields shown in retracted inoperative position and theother shield shown in operative position;

FIG. 2 is a partial side elevation view of the dual reel windingapparatus as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-section view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2showing the mounting of a shield in greater detail;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevation view of a winding mechanism showinganother embodiment of a segmented shield, with one of the segmentsmovable axially;

FIG. 5 is a partial side elevation view of a reel winding apparatusshowing a segmented shield, with one of the segments movable radially;and

FIG. 6 is a partial front elevation view of the reel shielded windingmechanism shown in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The stock winding mechanism 1shown in FIG. 1 includes a frame 3 adapted to rotatably support a pairof axially aligned reels 5 and 5. Means 9, 11 are mounted on the framefor driving each of the reels independently. Supported on the frame 3above the reels is a guide means 13 for feeding stock 15 from a supplysource (not shown) onto the stock receiving surfaces 17, 17' of thereels 5, 5'. The guide means 13 is supported on guide rods 19 mounted onthe frame, and means are provided (not shown) for moving the guide means13 on the rods 19 to and fro between flanges 21 or 21 on either reel 5,as the reel rotates to wind stock evenly on its stock receiving surface17, 17. Means (not shown) are also provided for moving the guide meansalong the rods from a winding position adjacent one of the reels 5, 5 toa winding position adjacent the other reel.

When the required amount of stock has been wound onto one of the reels,reel 5 for example, the guide means 13 is moved axially away from reel 5along rods 19 toward reel 5. When this happens, the stock is guided overflange 21A of reel 5. In this position, the stock is caught and cut by afirst snagger plate 23 rotating adjacent the flange 21A of reel 5. Thestock is then also caught by a second snagger plate 25 rotating adjacentflange 21B of empty reel 5 to begin winding stock on it. Full reel 5 isthen brought to a halt. The apparatus thus far described is well known,particularly in the wire and cable winding art.

While the full reel 5 is being brought to a halt, the loose or cut end26 of the stock 15 may come free of snagger plate 23 and may deflect orricochet off the apparatus in such a manner that it hits the stockalready wound onto the full reel 5 thereby damaging it. Shield means 27,27 are, therefore, provided to protect the stock wound on each reel 5,5. The shield means 27, 27' associated with each reel is identical andonly one will, therefore, be described. The shield means 27, as shown inFIG. 1, can, in one embodiment, comprise a tubular shield member 29which is supported by a collar 30 on the drive shaft 22 for the reel 5,axially adjacent one side of the reel 5, opposite the snagger plate 23,in an inoperative position while stock is being wound onto the reel. Thetubular shield member 29 has a width in the axial direction of the reel5 substantially equal to the width of the stock receiving surface 17 ofthe reel. The shield member 29 has a smooth, unbroken, inner,circumferential surface 31. The shield 29 is circular in cross-sectionand sized so it can slide axially over the circular flange 21B of thereel 5 to an operative position where its inner surface 31 substantiallycovers the cylindrical stock receiving surface 17 of the reel.

Means are provided for guiding and moving the shield member 29 relativeto the frame 3 and the reel 5 on shaft 22. The shield 29 can have an endwall 33 attached to one peripheral edge 35 of shield 29, the'oppositeperipheral edge 37 of the shield being free. The end wall 33 isconnected to collar 30. At least one guide rod 39 is attached to frame3, extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the reel. The free end41 of the rod extends through an aperture 43 of the end wall 33 to guidethe shield member in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of thereel.

A pneumatic or hydraulic piston and cylinder means 45 is also providedfor moving the shield relative to the frame and reel along rod 39. Thecylinder 45 is connected at one end to the wall 33. A rod 46 extendingfrom the piston in the cylinder is connected to the frame 3. Actuationof the piston and cylinder moves the shield axially along rod 39 from aninoperative position (shown by dotted lines in FIG. 3) to an operativeposition (shown by full lines in FIG. 3) where its inner surface 31substantially encloses the stock receiving surface l7 of reel 5.

It is important that the shield is axially moved over the reel to aposition where the free peripheral edge 37 is spaced a slight distancein the axial direction from the flange 21A ofthe reel to provide anarrow, circumferential gap 47 through which the stock 15 can extend asshown in FIG. 3. In order to provide this gap, the distance the shieldis moved can be controlled by the position of the cylinder 45 or by itsstroke. The width of the gap 47 is slightly greater than the width ofthe stock being wound. The gap width can be adjusted depending upon thewidth ofthe stock being wound.

The shield 29 must remain in the inoperative position to the right ofreel 5 as seen in FIG. 1 during the winding operation so as not tointerfere with the stock 15 as it traverses the stock receiving surface17. It must, however, be quickly moved into operative positionsubstantially enclosing the stock receiving surface just prior tocutting the stock and after winding is substantially completed. A sensor49, mounted on frame 3 by means not shown, can be positioned in the pathof guide means 13 as it moves along the guide rods 19 from the windingposition adjacent reel 5 to the winding position adjacent reel 5. Whenthe guide means 13 contacts sensor 49, it triggers operation of thecylinder 45 to move the shield into position so that it covers the stockwound onto the reel just before the stock is cut. With the shieldcovering the reel when the stock is cut by the snagger plate, the cutend 26 of the stock may project through the gap 47 while the reel 5continues rotating until braked to a stop. The shield prevents the cutend 26 of the stock from damaging the stock wound onto the reel if thewire ricochets off the apparatus back against the reel. If the cut endof the stock slips through the gap under the shield, the unbroken innercircumferential surface 31 of the shield 29 guides it smoothly andprevents it from ricocheting off the apparatus or shield against thewound stock. Once the reel 5 has stopped rotating, the shield 29 iswithdrawn by operation of cylinder 45, and the fully wound reel can beremoved and replaced with an empty reel.

If desired, the shield member 29 can be split into one or more segmentsas shown in FIG. 4. One segment 51 of the shield member 29 is connectedto the frame 3 in a position extending about a portion of the stockreceiving surface 17 of reel 5. The segment 51 is positioned away fromthe throat area 53 of the winding apparatus through which the stock 15passes from the guide means 13 to the stock receiving surface 17. Thefixed segment 51 of the shield can be located adjacent the bottom of thereel 5, for example. Edges 54 of the fixed segment 51 provide a guidemeans along which an axially movable segment 55 of the circumferentialshield 29 can be guided by its edges 56. The segment 55 is guided andmoved in the same manner as shield member 29 shown in FIG. I. Thesegment 55 is moved from an inoperative position axially adjacent reel 5to an operative position where, together with fixed segment 51, shieldmember 29' is formed. The inner surfaces 58, 60 of the segments 51, 55respectively, form an unbroken, circumferential inner surface 62 forshield 29 which substantially encloses the stock receiving surface 17 ofthe reel 5 immediately before the stock is to be cut. The free edge ofshield 29 is formed from the segments 51, 55, is again spaced axiallyfrom the flange 21A of the reel 5 to provide a circumferential gapthrough which the cut end 26 of the stock may extend.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the shield member 29" may beformed in two segments, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, where one segment 61is fixed to the frame 3 in spaced radial relation to the stock receivingsurface 17 of the reel 5 at the rear thereof so that it does notinterfere with the winding of the stock on the reel by the traversingguide means through the throat area 53. The second segment 63 ispivotably mounted by one axially extending edge 64 on the bottom axiallyextending edge 65 of segment 61 by a pivot pin 67. Moving means,comprising for example a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 69 and rod 71,are pivotably connected at one end to frame 3 by a pin 73 and at theother end to segment 63 by pin 75. Operation of cylinder 69 will pivotsegment 63 radially about pin 67 from an inoperative position spacedaway from reel 5 (as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 5) to an operativeposition (shown by full lines in FIG. 5) where its free axiallyextending edge 77 will abut free axially extending edge 79 of fixedsegment 61 so both segments form shield 29" which substantially enclosesthe stock receiving surface of the reel. The inner surfaces 81, 83 ofthe segments 61, 63 form the smooth inner surface 85 of the shield 29".Again, one circumferential edge of both segments 61, 63 of the shield29" are axially positioned away from the flange 21A of the reel 5 whenin operative position to provide a circumferential gap permitting thestock 15 to pass through as the guide means moves away from the fullywound reel and is cut.

I claim:

I. An apparatus for winding stock including a frame, a reel mounted forrotation about an axis on the frame, the reel having a stock receivingsurface and two end flanges, movable guide means to feed stock onto thereceiving surface of the rotating reel, means for cutting the stock whena desired amount of stock has been wound onto the reel and when thestock is positioned by the guide means adjacent one flange of the reel,a tubular shield mounted on the frame, means to move at least a portionof the shield to an operative position in which the shield protects thestock wound on the reel when the stock is cut, one circumferential edgeof the shield, when in the operative position, spaced axially from saidone flange of the reel adjacent which the stock is located when cut, adistance slightly greater than the width of the stock to provide anarrow circumferential gap through which the stock can extend.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular shield has asmooth, circumferential, unitary inner surface slightly larger than theouter circumference of the reel, and means for mounting the tubularshield for axial movement by said moving means from an inoperativeposition axially adjacent the other flange of the reel to an operativeposition substantially enclosing the stock receiving surface of the reelexcept for the circumferential gap.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular shieldcomprises two segments, one segment being fixed to the frame adjacentthe reel in a position to avoid interfering with the winding of stock onthe reel, the other segment movably connected along one axiallyextending edge to an axially extending edge of the fixed segment andpivotably movable by said moving means from an inoperative position tosaid operative position to cooperate with the one segment to form thetubular shield.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tubular shieldcomprises two segments, one segment being fixed adjacent said reel in aposition to avoid interfering with the winding of stock on said reel,the second segment mounted axially adjacent the reel, and means forguiding the second segment axially to said operative position tocooperate with one segment to form the tubular shield.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including sensing means mountedon the frame, said sensing means positioned to be actuated by said guidemeans when the guide means moves to a position where said stock is to becut, said sensing means automatically operating said shield movingmeans. i

6. A winding apparatus including a frame, first and second axiallyaligned reels mounted on said frame to rotate on a common axis, separatemeans for rotating each of said first and second reels, each reel havinga stock receiving surface and end flanges, single guide means to feedstock onto either the first or second reels, means between the two reelsfor cutting stock when one of said reels contains a desired amount ofstock, and the guide means has moved the stock from said one reel sothat the stock is adjacent one flange of said one reel, tubular shieldsmounted on the frame, one shield located axially adjacent one reelopposite the cutting means, the other shield located axially adjacentthe other reel opposite the cutting means, means to move at least aportion of each shield to an operative position in which the shieldprotects the stock wound on its respective reel when the stock is cut,one circumferential edge of the shield, when in the operative position,spaced axially from the said one flange of the reel adjacent which thestock is located when out a distance slightly greater than the width ofthe stock to provide a narrow circumferential gap through which thestock can extend.

1. An apparatus for winding stock including a frame, a reel mounted forrotation about an axis on the frame, the reel having a stock receivingsurface and two end flanges, movable guide means to feed stock onto thereceiving surface of the rotating reel, means for cutting the stock whena desired amount of stock has been wound onto the reel and when thestock is positioned by the guide means adjacent one flange of the reel,a tubular shield mounted on the frame, means to move at least a portionof the shield to an operative position in which the shield protects thestock wound on the reel when the stock is cut, one circumferential edgeof the shield, when in the operative position, spaced axially from saidone flange of the reel adjacent which the stock is located when cut, adistance slightly greater than the width of the stock to provide anarrow circumferential gap through which the stock can extend.
 2. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular shield has asmooth, circumferential, unitary inner surface slightly larger than theouter circumference of the reel, and means for mounting the tubularshield for axial movement by said moving means from an inoperativeposition axially adjacent the other flange of the reel to an operativeposition substantially enclosing the stock receiving surface of the reelexcept for the circumferential gap.
 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim1, wherein the tubular shield comprises two segments, one segment beingfixed to the frame adjacent the reel in a position to avoid interferingwith the winding of stock on the reel, the other segment movablyconnected along one axially extending edge to an axially extending edgeof the fixed segment and pivotably movable by said moving means from aninoperative position to said operative position to cooperate with theone segment to form the tubular shield.
 4. An apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said tubular shield comprises two segments, one segmentbeing fixed adjacent said reel in a position to avoid interfering withthe winding of stock on said reel, the second segment mounted axiallyadjacent the reel, and means for guiding the second segment axially tosaid operative position to cooperate with one segment to form thetubular shield.
 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including sensingMeans mounted on the frame, said sensing means positioned to be actuatedby said guide means when the guide means moves to a position where saidstock is to be cut, said sensing means automatically operating saidshield moving means.
 6. A winding apparatus including a frame, first andsecond axially aligned reels mounted on said frame to rotate on a commonaxis, separate means for rotating each of said first and second reels,each reel having a stock receiving surface and end flanges, single guidemeans to feed stock onto either the first or second reels, means betweenthe two reels for cutting stock when one of said reels contains adesired amount of stock, and the guide means has moved the stock fromsaid one reel so that the stock is adjacent one flange of said one reel,tubular shields mounted on the frame, one shield located axiallyadjacent one reel opposite the cutting means, the other shield locatedaxially adjacent the other reel opposite the cutting means, means tomove at least a portion of each shield to an operative position in whichthe shield protects the stock wound on its respective reel when thestock is cut, one circumferential edge of the shield, when in theoperative position, spaced axially from the said one flange of the reeladjacent which the stock is located when cut a distance slightly greaterthan the width of the stock to provide a narrow circumferential gapthrough which the stock can extend.